PHARMACOLOGY FOR PRACTICAL NURSES

Program:
Practical Nursing

Course:
Pharmacology for Practical Nurses

Course #:
NURS1141

Total Credits:
4

Course Description

This course contains nursing theory and skills related to the general principles of medication administration. Terminology, abbreviations, and knowledge of medications required to interpret physician orders are emphasized. Preparation and administration of medications via oral, topical, and parenteral routes are practiced and demonstrated. Skills lab is required in preparation for clinical participation. This course will cover the characteristics of hazardous wastes and its safe handling, storage, and disposal.

Course Evaluation

Refer to Course Syllabus for detailed information regarding the requirements and evaluation standards for this course. The Course Syllabus will be distributed the first week of the course.

Disability Services

Hennepin Technical College offers reasonable accommodations to qualified students with disabilities. If you have a documented disability that may require accommodations, contact the college’s Disability Services Director: Sara Laviolette at Brooklyn Park (763-488-2477) or Jean Kreutter at Eden Prairie (952-995-1544).

Course Goals

The following goals will be addressed in the course:
Acquire knowledge of pharmacokinetics
Demonstrate legal principles of drug administration
Apply common medical abbreviations
Apply common medication abbreviations
Interpret essential portions of physician orders
Document the use of medication reference manuals
Illustrate safety procedures used in all medication administration
Determine proper equipment use in medication administration
Demonstrate the steps of medication administration
Examine safe administration sites for parenteral medications
Illustrate procedure for administration of controlled substances
Calculate dosages of medication doses within drug systems
Convert medication dosages between drug system
Demonstrate management of Intravenous fluids